|
Appropriate
provision of Basic Life Support to victims of emergencies can significantly
reduce associated deaths and disabilities.
 |
| The
workshop addressed the need to identify a safe, consistent,
standardised and effective way to evaluate and resuscitate patients
in acute emergency situations. |
A two-day workshop highlighting this concept
was organised by Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) on July 28 and 29, 2004
in
Karachi
with the objective of improving responses
to acute emergencies. One of the key goals of AKUH is to provide continuous
education to health care providers so that they are trained to respond to
the unique needs of patients.
The workshop addressed the need to
identify a safe, consistent, standardised and effective way to evaluate
and resuscitate patients in acute emergency situations. The workshop
was facilitated by Dr Muhammad Baqir, Assistant Professor, Section
of Emergency Medicine, Aga Khan University (AKU), Dr Nadeemullah
Khan, Senior Instructor in Emergency Medicine and Dr Iqbal Yaseen,
Senior Emergency Officer. Participants included family physicians,
trainees, interns, resident medical officers and nurses. The workshop
featured video presentations and hands-on practice on manikins,
enhancing participants' understanding of key factors during emergencies.
 |
| Appropriate
provision of Basic Life Support to victims of emergencies can
significantly reduce associated deaths and disabilities. |
Speakingon the occasion, Dr Baqir said that
"chances of survival in a cardiac arrest decline by approximately seven
to ten per cent every minute. More than 12 minutes after a collapse,
the cardiac arrest survival rate is only two to five per cent." He underscored
the importance of initial handling in clinics and homes which "could
increase chances of survival considerably."
Research confirms that 50 per cent
of men and women with heart disease experience their first signs
in the form of "sudden cardiac arrest". "The highest
potential survival rate from cardiac arrest can be achieved
only when the following sequence of events takes place as promptly
as possible: recognition of early warning signs and activation
of professional help, and Basic Life Support followed by access
to a health care facility," Dr Baqir disclosed.
 |
| AKUH
organises Basic Life Support programmes for its staff four to
five times a year and twice a year for the general public. |
Trainingin Basic Life Support has been recommended
for health care professionals for more than three decades and for
the general public since 1974. These recommendations have culminated
in the development of a wide variety of Basic Life Support programmes
around the world. In line with this trend,and as part of its ongoing training
programmes for faculty and staff, AKUH organises Basic Life Support programmes
for its staff four to five times a year and twice a year for the general public.
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